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National mango crop down on last year

First grade mangoes from the Northern Territory have been selling for up to $80 a tray at the Sydney Markets.

Sue Dodd

A poor growing season in the Northern Territory means Australia's mango crop will be well down on last year.

The Australian Mango Industry Association (AMIA) is estimating the national crop will be around 6.5 million trays, which is down a million trays on last year.

AMIA chairman Gavin Scurr, says Queensland and parts of Western Australia are on track for a good harvest, but there's been a number of problems with this year's crop in the Northern Territory.

"Queensland and Western Australia are probably similar to last year, so the drop in production at this stage is all in the Northern Territory," he said.

"The Territory is looking at producing maybe half of what it did last year, which is obviously disappointing for those growers."

The Northern Territory was always on track for a smaller crop because of a poor wet season and warmer than average dry season.

But a major fruit drop event in the Katherine growing region has severely reduced yields, with some farms losing almost all of their fruit.

Gavin Scurr says mangoes will be a bit more expensive this year.

"The high price (we're seeing now) is going to continue for longer than it normally would because of the lack of supply,

"They'll be a bit more expensive than normal, through until the crop gets going in Queensland which is well into November,

"So our message to consumers is 'we know you love your mangoes', so don't wait until November, they're still a very good valued piece of fruit and even at $4 or $5 the quality is fantastic, there's plenty of flesh on them and you'd pay that for a hamburger and I know which one I'd rather eat."